Internal-combustion engine



Jan. 27, 1931.

c. Rv WRIGHT INTERNAL comausuou Emma Filed N07. 28, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR I I A BY 7 ATZTORNEY.

Jan. 27, 1931. RI T 1,790,256

' INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Nov. 28, 1927 2 She etS-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Jan. 27, 1931 v UNITED STATES CORWIN B. WBIGBT, OF DETROIT, HICHIGAN INTEBNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Application filed November Among the objects of this invention is an internal combustion engine of the rotary type.

Another object of the invention is an internalcombustion engine of the type mentioned in which the propelling force is applied directly to produce rotary motion.

A. further object of the invention is an internal combustion engine having an annular casing with a rotor therein carrying compressing meanswhich also serves as the movable wall of the combustion chamber upon which the energy is impressed.

Still other ob'ects will readily occur to those skilled in t e art upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a side elevation of the engine with parts in section; I

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of one ofthe swinging vanes.

As shown in the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an annular casing 10 whose outer wall is substantially circular and whose inner wall is spaced therefrom to provide a cooling water passage 11. The inner wall is of somewhat less width than the outer wall and its peripheral contour is divided into four portions 12, 12a, and 13, three of these being shown in Figure 1. Portions 12 and 12a are concentric with the outer casing and portions 13 are formed as-elliptical arcs located between the portions 12 and 12a. At oneend the portions 13 merge into the adjacent concentric surface while at the other end is produced a step 14 whose face is curved on a large radius for reasons made clear later. v

The open sides of the annulus 10 are closed by a pair of double walled cover plates 15 of which the outer walls are substantially smooth while the inner walls, spaced to form a water passage 16, are stepped as shown in Figure 2 and provided with central openings in which are secured the bearings 17 for. the rotor shaft 18. The stepped inner walls of plates 15 provide for an annular rotor chamber, of rectangular cross section communicating with a thinner central portion.

2a, 1927. Serial No. aaarea exhaust ports 19 located diametrically oppo site each other at'the ends oi? the elliptical arcs .13 which merge into concentric portions 12 and 1211. And the plates .15 are provided with two intake openings 20 entering the rectangular rotor chamber near its inner side. These openings 20 are also diametrically opposite each other and about 135 degrees ahead of the exhaust openings 19.

Suitable manito lding will of course be vided for the intake and exhaust.

The rotor of the engine consists of a central spider member 30. keyed to shaft 18 and shaped in the form of a pulley whose rim 31 surrounds rather closely the stepped central portion 32 of the plates 15 packing rings 33 probeing provided to produce anoil and gastight oint. V

Secured to the periphery .of rim 31 are a plurality of blocks 35, inthe present case four of the blocks areused. These blocks are of such shape that their outer contour when in place is circular and concentric with the shaft 18. The forward faces of the blocks are curved under and their rearward faces tangential to the rim 3-1 with a bearing 36 formed therein atthe base. Mounted in these hearings arewings 37, one of which is shown in Figure 4.

As shown in Figure 4,; the win 37 is roughly triangular as viewed from t e side with a cylindrical bearing member 38 formed at one of its apices'. One of itssides 39 is substantially flat and the other side adjacent bearing 38 is curved inwardly so that it may lie close to the rim 31. The side opposite bearing 38 is also curved and is cut out to form a pocket or chamber 40, around which is a groove 41 for the reception of a suitable packing. There will also be provided a groove 42 along each edge of the block or swinging vane for packing. These swinging vanes are adapted to swing on bearing 38 between the tangential face of block 35 and the rim 31 and to fit snugly at the opposite end from, the bearing against a Z-shaped valve piece (to be described) which in turn fits closely against the forfuel-air mixture will ward inwardly curved surface of the follow- -ing block 35. 4 v

The Z-valve is shown at 45 and comprises a plate curved to correspond to the curves of the end of wing 37 and the forward face of block between which it lies.

forwardly pro ecting flange 46 curved to correspond with the curvature of rim 31 and swingmg vane 37 may be cut away as at 47 to provide forsuch flange. At its outer ed e v the valve plate is provided. with a rearwar y extending flange 48 curved to corres nd to the outer surface of block 35 whose fl i'ward end may be cut away as at 49 to provide a recess in which said flange lies when down. Further the-valve plate is provided with a short passage 50 in its forward face leading from its lower edge to such a point as will be oppositechamber when the valve and swinging vane are in registry. Also, in order to provide a ti ht joint between valve and block 35 a pee ing strip 51 is referably set in the forward face of the bloc k.

"In the operation of the engine, it is of course understood that the casing 10 will be supportedin suitable manner as upon lugs 60 in a suitable frame, and that a suitable be supplied to the intake ports 20.

Rotation of the rotor 30 causes the swinging vanes 37 to move out against the walls 12 when they pass one ofthe steps 14. Such outward movement draws intothe space between the wing 37 and rim 31 a charge of fuel-air mixture. Further movement of the rotor over the wall 13 causes its inward movement and the corresponding compression of the mixture. In the meantime, due

to centrifugal action, the valve 45 will have 37 produces rotation of the rotor and ,the

high. pressure acting on the flange 48 of the At' its 1111161 edge the plate is provided with a short vane 37 in its power movement serves to push out-the expanded ases ahead of it.

Lubrication of t e several parts is accomplished by providing a quantity of oil in chamber within the central portion ofthe casing within rim 31 and through small oil passages 70, centrifugal force will cause it to .pass tobearings 36 and-to the rear faces of valves 45. From these points sufiicientdistribution to the other contacting faces will take place.

Now having described the invention and the preferred form of embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the said invention is to be limited, not to thespecific details herein set forth but only by the scope of the claim which follows.

I claim: r In an internal combustion motor having a stator enclosing a rotor having movable swin 'ng vanes thereon with combustion cham rs in their free ends, valve members adapted to contact with the free ends of said swinging vanes and walls fixed to said rotor to thereby cover said chambers and means on said valves to delay movement of said valves after the movement of the swinging vanes in one direction and means to cause movement of the valves with the swinging vanes in the other direction.

CORWIN R. WRIGHT.

valve 45, delays the outward movement of the valve until about the position shown in Figure 1, at the lower right or upper left of the figure. At about the time the rotor'opens the intake, the valve 45 moves out and is in position for passing a new charge into cham- The expansion of the gases is allowed to continue for a little over 90 degrees or throughout the quadrants 12 and 12a and exhaust occurs as compression begins at the beginning of a quadrant 13. Each swinging 

